Yehosha wrote:Murdoc Loch wrote:JHern wrote:Murdoc Loch wrote:1. Pier Park, Portland OR
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6. De Laveaga, Santa Cruz CA
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It is interesting to see this...we could definitely say without any reservations that DeLaveaga was a better course than Pier Park...
Well, this is why no two people are the same. It's called being an individual. I'm sure we throw different discs, drive different cars and listen to different music. We might agree on somethings sure, but the things you care about in a disc golf course are clearly different from me. For instance: De Laveaga is filthy, it's crowed, it has less shade, the holes cross over each other, it has less technical/finesse shots, many of the holes have short and/or not flat teeboxes, i hate the terrain/trees/plants/dirt/rocks/etc, the road to the parking lot goes threw the course.
All that being said it is still on my top ten, i don't hate the course, but i do hate that it's on my list... De Laveaga is overrated in my opinion.
About time someone else said that...De Laveaga is definitely overrated for exactly those reasons you gave. Everytime I say that to someone they look at me like I'm crazy. It's a decent course, but not the Mecca of disc golf like too many make it out to be.
Well, I still disagree, and as you say, whatever floats one's boat. Pier Park is my brother's home course, and he is similarly infatuated with it. I do like it (even thought about buying a cheap house around there as a disc golf time share). But I've taken him to more of California's best courses, and he complains about the wind (none at Pier Park), rocks (none at Pier Park), topography (very little at Pier Park), the sun (none at Pier Park), the challenge of throwing into tight and smaller vegetation (none at Pier Park), etc.. I'm completely different, and for me it is all about variety. I'd love 2-3 holes on any course that exhibited the best elements of Pier Park, but no more than that. The rest are the same.
To the criticisms of DeLa...
-Crossing fairways? Sheesh, who cares? There are 2 at DeLa, and they aren't a big deal. Are you that distracted that other people are throwing plastic in other directions in your vicinity? When you drive a car down the highway do you curse the fact that all other cars don't pull over and let you through?
-Filthy? Really? Did somebody take a crap on the tee pad ahead of your group or something? This park is kept immaculate and spotless, in my experience. Lots of TLC by the locals. And if you saw trash and didn't pick it up, then shame on you.
-The road is my biggest complaint about DeLa, and that's where we agree completely. I hate all those rich bastards driving to and fro to their mansions in the hills. I wish they didn't exist. That's why DeLa can never be a perfect 10 in my mind.
DeLa is not at all over-rated. Lots of people don't like the challenge and variety, I guess (maybe they would prefer being coddled at ball golf courses, driving around in carts?), but every pro that plays there each year in the Steady Ed Memorial loves it. I watched Ken Climo rub the Mother tree's vagina vigorously for the good part of a minute in deference. Here is what Climo says about DeLa on his website: "Okay sports fans, here is your dream course. Awesome views, serious elevation change, danger everywhere. DeLaveaga will work you hard for 27 holes while not once allowing you to drop your guard. The fairways are dangerous. The greens are dangerous. The entire place is loaded with pitfalls, yet there is hardly a more fun place to play golf on the planet. This park just brings a challenge to the table that most players cannot answer."
There are so many shots and kinds of holes there that you'll never find at other courses, or maybe only one or two if you're lucky. There are also so many important cultural wonders and heritage for disc golf, and special people who have been involved in that course's development and history, that few other courses even come close. It is truly a pleasure to behold, and take part in. I'm glad I get to go there numerous times each year.
